Utility Lighter

ABSTRACT

A utility lighter includes a housing having an elongated tube portion, an actuation button depressibly mounted at a housing portion of the housing, a safety wheel rotated and mounted at the actuation button, and a blocker driven to move by a rotational movement of the safety wheel between an inoperative configuration and an operative configuration. In the inoperative configuration, the blocker is retained in the housing portion of the housing to prevent a depressible head of a piezoelectric element from being depressed by the actuation button for ignition. In the operative configuration, the safety wheel is rotated at the actuation button to drive the blocker to diminish undesirable position, so that the actuation button is depressed to depress the depressible head of the piezoelectric element and to actuate the valve actuator for ignition.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a general purpose of a utility lighterfor ignition of barbecue grills, fireplaces or candle lights. Moreparticularly, the utility lighter with a safety feature for preventingthe utility lighter from being actuated unintentionally.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Cigarette lighters have developed over a number of years and areconsidered as one of the common tools for igniting cigarette, cigars andpipes. The conventional cigarette lighter generally includes a hand-heldcasing receiving a piezoelectric element to generate a spark inproximity to a nozzle emitting gas from a gas container by a depressionof an actuation button. The conventional cigarette lighter furthercontains a safety device to block the depression of the actuationbutton. The user must actuate the safety device at the operativeconfiguration in order to depress the actuation button for ignition. Thesafety device can be a locking mechanism to lock up the actuation buttonat the inoperative configuration or a gas control mechanism to block thegas flowing to the flame outlet of the nozzle. However, the conventionalcigarette lighter is not commonly used for igniting barbecue grills,fireplaces or candle lights because the actuation button is close to theflame outlet of the nozzle.

A utility lighter generally contains an elongated housing to prolong theflame outlet from the actuation button so that the user is able to pointflame outlet for igniting barbecue grills, fireplaces or candle lights.Since the structural configuration of the utility lighter is differentfrom that of the cigarette lighter, the safety device cannot beconfigured as it is used in the cigarette lighter. In order toincorporate the safety device with the utility lighter, the safetydevice must be re-designed to fit the structural configuration of theutility lighter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks andlimitation by configuring the components of the utility lighter toincorporate with the safety mechanism.

The primary objective of the present invention is that the utilitylighter comprises a safety mechanism to prevent the utility lighter frombeing ignited. In one aspect, the safety mechanism blocks the depressionof the actuation button to prevent the utility lighter from beingignited. In another aspect, the safety mechanism prevents the depressionof the piezoelectric element to prevent the ignition of the utilitylight.

Another objective of the present invention is that the safety mechanismprovides a safety wheel rotated and mounted at the actuation button ofthe utility lighter so that the utility lighter requires two differentactions to complete the ignition. The user must rotate the safety wheelat the operative configuration and depress the actuation button. In oneaspect, the safety wheel is rotated at the operative configuration tounlock the blocker in order to depress the actuation button forignition. In another aspect, the safety wheel is rotated at theoperative configuration to align the blocker with the piezoelectricelement in order to depress the actuation button for ignition.

The present invention also provides another objective of incorporatingthe safety wheel with the actuation button. Therefore, the user is ableto ignite the utility lighter by one-finger operation. The user can usethe finger thereof to rotate the safety button and depress the actuationbutton.

The present invention provides a safety mechanism for prevent anunintentional ignition of the utility. The safety mechanism comprises anactuation button depressibly mounted at the housing, a safety wheelrotated and mounted at the actuation button, and a blocker driven tomove by a rotational movement of the safety wheel between an inoperativeconfiguration and an operative configuration.

In the inoperative configuration, the blocker is retained in the housingportion of the housing to prevent the depressible head of thepiezoelectric element from being depressed by the actuation button forignition.

In the operative configuration, the safety wheel is rotated at theactuation button to drive the blocker to diminish undesirable position,so that the actuation button is depressed to depress the depressiblehead of the piezoelectric element and to actuate the valve actuator forignition

In one embodiment, the blocking end of the blocker is extended throughthe actuation button to engage with the housing portion of the housingso that the actuation button is blocked to be depressed. Therefore, thedepressible head of the piezoelectric element cannot be depressed by theactuation button. For ignition operation, the safety wheel is rotate tomove the blocking end of the blocker to disengage with the housingportion of the housing so that the actuation is free to be depressed.

In another embodiment, the depression slot of the blocker is alignedwith the depressible head of the piezoelectric element so that when theactuation button is depressed, the depressible head of the piezoelectricelement passes through the depression slot of the blocker to prevent thedepression of the piezoelectric element. For ignition operation, thesafety wheel is rotated to move the blocker to mis-align the depressionslot with the depressible head of the piezoelectric element so that whenthe actuation button is depressed, the depressible head of thepiezoelectric element is depressed by the blocker for ignition.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention with itsobjectives and distinctive features and advantages, reference is nowmade to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the utility lighter in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a lateral sectional view of the utility lighter in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a lateral sectional view of the utility lighter showing thesafety mechanism at the inoperative configuration.

FIG. 4 a lateral sectional view of the utility lighter showing thesafety mechanism at the operative configuration.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the safety mechanism of the utilitylighter, showing the alternative embodiment of the blocker.

FIG. 6 is a lateral sectional view of the utility lighter showing thesafety mechanism of the alternative embodiment at the inoperativeconfiguration.

FIG. 7 a lateral sectional view of the utility lighter showing thesafety mechanism of the alternative embodiment at the operativeconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a utility lighter in accordance with thepresent invention is illustrated. The utility lighter comprises ahousing 100, a fuel supply 200, a nozzle unit 300, a piezoelectricelement 400, a valve actuator 500, and a safety mechanism whichcomprises an actuation button 600, a safety wheel 700, and a blocker800.

As it is illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 100 has an elongated tubeportion 101 extending from a housing portion 102, wherein the tubeportion 101 has a flame outlet 103 extending away from the housingportion 102. The housing 100 further has two guiding sidewalls 105guiding the movement of the actuation button 600.

The fuel supply 200 is received in the housing portion 102 of thehousing 100, wherein the fuel supply 200 contains a predetermined amountof fuel as the lighter fuel for being ignited.

The nozzle unit 300 comprises a nozzle 301 extended to the flame outlet103 of the tube portion 101 and a fuel tube 302 extended from the fuelsupply 200 to the nozzle 301 within the tube portion 101 of the housing100 for fuel communication with the fuel supply 200.

The piezoelectric element 400 is supported in the housing portion 102 ofthe housing 100, wherein the piezoelectric element 400 has a depressiblehead 401 and an electrode 402 extended along the tube portion 101 of thehousing 100 proximate to the nozzle 301 to generate a spark thereto whenthe depressible head 401 is depressed.

The valve actuator 500 is coupled with the fuel supply 200 to releasethe fuel from the fuel supply 200 to the nozzle 301. The valve actuator500 comprises a gas releasing lifter 501 coupling with a valve of thefuel supply 200 to release the fuel therefrom when the gas releasinglifter 501 lifts up the valve of the fuel supply 200.

The actuation button 600 is depressibly mounted at the housing portion102 of the housing 100, wherein the actuation button 600 has a fingerdepression surface 601 for the finger of the user to depress theactuation button 600 for ignition and a guiding slot 603 to guide themovement of the blocker 800. The actuation button 600 is positionedabove the depressible head 401 of the piezoelectric element 400 so thatwhen the actuation button 600 is depressed, the depressible head 401 ofthe piezoelectric element 400 is driven to be depressed to generate thespark at the electrode 402. The gas releasing lifter 501 is positionedbelow the actuation button 600 so that when the actuation button 600 isdepressed, the gas releasing lifter 501 is actuated by the actuationbutton 600 to lift up the valve of the fuel supply 200 for releasing thefuel. Therefore, the fuel emitting at the nozzle 301 is ignited by thespark to produce the flame at the flame outlet 103 of the housing 100.

Referring to FIG. 3, two button sidewalls 602 of the actuation button600 are slid and mounted to the guiding sidewalls 105 of the housing 100respectively so that the button sidewalls 602 of the actuation button600 are slid at the guiding sidewalls 105 of the housing 100respectively when the actuation button 600 is depressed.

The safety wheel 700 is rotated and mounted at the finger depressionsurface 601 of the actuation button 600. A pin is mounted at theactuation button 600 through a center of the safety wheel 700 so thatthe safety wheel 70 is rotated about the actuation button 600. Inparticularly, a first portion of the safety wheel 700 is protruded fromthe finger depression surface 601 of the actuation button 600 and asecond portion of the safety wheel 700 is received in the actuationbutton 600. A circumferential surface of the safety wheel is agear-teeth surface 701 for the finger of the user to rotate. Inparticularly, the gear-teeth surface 701 is formed at the first portionof the safety wheel 700. Referring to FIG. 3, the second portion of thesafety wheel 700 is extended within the actuation button 600 to engagewith the blocker 800. The safety wheel 700 further has a drivingshoulder 702 protruded from the circumferential surface at the secondportion to engage with a shoulder portion 801 of the blocker 800.

The blocker 800 is transversely (preferably horizontally) supported inthe housing portion 102 of the housing and is driven to move by therotational movement of the safety wheel 700 between an inoperativeconfiguration and an operative configuration. Referring to FIG. 3, theblocker 800 is an elongated member and is coupled with the guiding slot603 of the actuation button 600 so that the blocker 800 is slid in theactuation button 600 between the inoperative configuration and theoperative configuration. Referring to FIG. 3, in the inoperativeconfiguration, the blocker 800 is retained in the housing portion 102 ofthe housing 100 to prevent the depressible head 401 of the piezoelectricelement 400 from being depressed by the actuation button 600 forignition. Referring to FIG. 4, in the operative configuration, thesafety wheel 700 is rotated at the actuation button 600 to drive theblocker 800 to diminish undesirable position, so that the actuationbutton 600 is depressed to depress the depressible head 401 of thepiezoelectric element 400 and to actuate the valve actuator 500 forignition.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the blocker 800 further has a blocking end802 extended through the actuation button 600 to engage with the housingportion 102 of the housing 100 so that the actuation button 600 isblocked to be depressed. In order to move the blocker 800 from theinoperative configuration to the operative configuration, the safetywheel 700 is rotate to move the blocking end 802 of the blocker 800 todisengage with the housing portion 102 of the housing 100 so that theactuation button 600 is free to be depressed.

The blocker 800 further has an opposed sliding end 803 slid and mountedto the actuation button 600 to retain the blocker 800 within theactuation button 600. The shoulder portion 801 is formed between theblocking end 802 and the sliding end 803 to engage with the drivingshoulder 702 of the safety wheel 700.

In particularly, a blocking slot 106 is formed at one of the guidingsidewalls 105 of the housing 100 wherein the size of the blocking slot106 must be larger than the size of the blocking end 802 of the blocker800. The guiding slot 603 is formed adjacent to the corresponding buttonsidewall 602 of the actuation button 600 to normally align with theblocking slot 106. Therefore, at the inoperative configuration, theguiding slot 603 is aligned with the blocking slot 106. The blocking end802 of the blocker 800 is extended to the blocking slot 106 through theguiding slot 603 to block the depression of the actuation button 600.Therefore, once the blocking end 802 of the blocker 800 is extended tothe blocking slot 106, the button sidewall 602 of the actuation button600 is locked with the corresponding guiding sidewall 105 of the housing100 to lock the depression of the actuation button 600. Once theblocking end 802 of the blocker 800 is slid away from the blocking slot106 of the guiding sidewall 105 to unlock the button sidewall 602 withthe corresponding guiding sidewall 105, the actuation button 600 is freeto be depressed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the blocking slot 106 has a slanted openingedge 107 for guiding the blocking end 802 of the blocker 800 to slide inand out of the blocking slot 106. In particularly, the opening of theblocking slot 106 is gradually reducing towards the actuation button600. Therefore, when the blocker 800 is slid to lock with the housing100, the blocking end 802 of the blocker 800 is guided to slide at theslanted opening edge 107 to ensure the blocking end 802 of the blocker800 sliding into the blocking slot 106. When the blocker 800 is slid tounlock with the housing 100, the blocking end 802 of the blocker 800 isguided to slide at the slanted opening edge 107 to ensure the blockingend 802 of the blocker 800 sliding out the blocking slot 106.

Referring to the present invention, the safety mechanism furthercomprises a resilient member 900 mounted at the blocker 800 to ensurethe blocker 800 remaining at the inoperative configuration. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the resilient member 900 is a compression springcoaxially mounted at the blocker 800 between the shoulder portion 801and the sliding end 803. The resilient member 900 is supported to biasagainst the actuation button 600 to normally push the blocker 800 andthe safety wheel 700 at the inoperative configuration. Accordingly, whenthe safety wheel 700 is rotated to drive the blocker 800 to slide to itsoperative configuration, the resilient member 900 will be compressed.Once the rotational force of the safety wheel 700 is released, thecompressed resilient member 900 will push the blocker 800 back to itsinoperative configuration and thus push the safety wheel 700 back to itsposition via the shoulder portion 801 of the blocker 800. A ring holder810 is slid and mounted at the blocker 800 proximate to the sliding end803 of the blocker 800 to retain the resilient member 900 at the blocker800 between the shoulder portion 801 and the ring holder 810.

For completing the ignition operation of the utility lighter, the usermust put the finger on the finger depression surface 601 of theactuation button 600. Then, a rotational force is applied to rotate thesafety wheel 700 to drive the blocker 800 from the inoperativeconfiguration to the operative configuration. Therefore, a depressionforce can be applied on the actuation button 600 to depress theactuation button 600 for depressing the depressible head 401 of thepiezoelectric element 400 and for releasing the fuel from the fuelsupply 200. After completing the ignition operation of the utilitylighter, the depressible head 401 of the piezoelectric element 400pushes the actuation button 600 to its original position and the blocker800 returns to its inoperative configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the utility lighter provides an alternativeembodiment. Throughout the FIGS. 2 to 4, the blocker 800 is used forblocking the depression of the actuation button 600. Throughout theFIGS. 5 to 7, the blocker 800A is used for preventing the depression ofthe depressible head 401 of the piezoelectric element 400. The structureof the alternative embodiment is the same as that of the aboveembodiment except the structure of the blocker 800A.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the blocker 800A has a depression slot 804Aaligned with the depressible head 401 of the piezoelectric element 400so that when the actuation button 600 is depressed, the depressible head401 of the piezoelectric element 400 passes through the depression slot804A of the blocker 800A to prevent the depression of the piezoelectricelement 400. The depression slot 804A is formed between two sliding ends805A of the blocker 800A. In particularly, the depression slot 804A isformed adjacent to the shoulder portion 801A of the blocker 800A.

Referring to FIG. 7, the safety wheel 700 is rotated to move the blocker800A to mis-align the depression slot 804A with the depressible head 401of the piezoelectric element 400 so that when the actuation button 600is depressed, the depressible head 401 of the piezoelectric element 400is depressed by the blocker 800A for ignition.

While the embodiments and alternatives of the present invention havebeen shown and described, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A utility lighter, comprising: a housing having an elongated tubeportion extending from a housing portion, wherein said tube portion hasa flame outlet extending away from said housing portion; a fuel supplyreceived in said housing portion of said housing; a nozzle unit whichcomprises a nozzle extended to said flame outlet of said tube portionand a fuel tube extended from said fuel supply to said nozzle withinsaid tube portion of said housing for fuel communication with said fuelsupply; a piezoelectric element supported in said housing portion ofsaid housing, wherein said piezoelectric element has a depressible headand an electrode extended along said tube portion of said housingproximate to said nozzle to generate a spark thereto when saiddepressible head is depressed; a valve actuator coupling with said fuelsupply to release said fuel from said fuel supply to said nozzle; and asafety mechanism, comprising an actuation button depressibly mounted atsaid housing portion of said housing, a safety wheel rotated and mountedat said actuation button, and a blocker driven to move by a rotationalmovement of said safety wheel between an inoperative configuration andan operative configuration; wherein in said inoperative configuration,said blocker is retained in said housing portion of said housing toprevent said depressible head of said piezoelectric element from beingdepressed by said actuation button for ignition; wherein in saidoperative configuration, said safety wheel is rotated at said actuationbutton to drive said blocker to diminish undesirable position, so thatsaid actuation button is depressed to depress said depressible head ofsaid piezoelectric element and to actuate said valve actuator forignition.
 2. The utility lighter of claim 1 wherein said safety wheelhas a driving shoulder protruded from a circumferential surface toengage with a shoulder portion of said blocker to drive said blocker tomove from said inoperative configuration to said operativeconfiguration.
 3. The utility lighter of claim 2 wherein saidcircumferential surface of said safety wheel is a gear-teeth surface fora finger of a user to rotate.
 4. The utility lighter of claim 1 whereinsaid blocker is an elongated member horizontally supported at saidhousing portion of said housing that said blocker is slid thereinwithinbetween said inoperative configuration to said operative configuration.5. The utility lighter of claim 3 wherein said blocker is an elongatedmember horizontally supported at said housing portion of said housingthat said blocker is slid thereinwithin between said inoperativeconfiguration to said operative configuration.
 6. The utility lighter ofclaim 4, wherein said actuation button has a guider track engaging withsaid blocker to support said blocker in said actuation button and toguide a sliding movement of said blocker between said inoperativeconfiguration to said operative configuration.
 7. The utility lighter ofclaim 5, wherein said actuation button has a guider track engaging withsaid blocker to support said blocker in said actuation button and toguide a sliding movement of said blocker between said inoperativeconfiguration to said operative configuration.
 8. The utility lighter ofclaim 4 wherein said blocker has a blocking end extended through saidactuation button to engage with said housing portion of said housing sothat said actuation button is blocked to be depressed, wherein saidsafety wheel is rotate to move said blocking end of said blocker todisengage with said housing portion of said housing so that saidactuation button is free to be depressed.
 9. The utility lighter ofclaim 5 wherein said blocker has a blocking end extended through saidactuation button to engage with said housing portion of said housing sothat said actuation button is blocked to be depressed, wherein saidsafety wheel is rotate to move said blocking end of said blocker todisengage with said housing portion of said housing so that saidactuation button is free to be depressed.
 10. The utility lighter ofclaim 7 wherein said blocker has a blocking end extended through saidactuation button to engage with said housing portion of said housing sothat said actuation button is blocked to be depressed, wherein saidsafety wheel is rotate to move said blocking end of said blocker todisengage with said housing portion of said housing so that saidactuation is free to be depressed.
 11. The utility lighter of claim 8wherein two button sidewalls of said actuation button are slid andmounted at two guiding sidewalls of said housing respectively to guidesaid depression of said actuation button, wherein a blocking slot isformed at one of said guiding sidewalls, wherein a guiding slot isformed at said corresponding button sidewall to normally align with saidblocking slot, wherein said blocking end of said blocker is extended tosaid blocking slot through said guiding slot to block said depression ofsaid actuation button, wherein when said blocking end of said blocker isslid away from said blocking slot of said guiding sidewall, saidactuation button is free to be depressed.
 12. The utility lighter ofclaim 9 wherein two button sidewalls of said actuation button are slidand mounted at two guiding sidewalls of said housing respectively toguide said depression of said actuation button, wherein a blocking slotis formed at one of said guiding sidewalls, wherein a guiding slot isformed at said corresponding button sidewall to normally align with saidblocking slot, wherein said blocking end of said blocker is extended tosaid blocking slot through said guiding slot to block said depression ofsaid actuation button, wherein when said blocking end of said blocker isslid away from said blocking slot of said guiding sidewall, saidactuation button is free to be depressed.
 13. The utility lighter ofclaim 10 wherein two button sidewalls of said actuation button are slidand mounted at two guiding sidewalls of said housing respectively toguide said depression of said actuation button, wherein a blocking slotis formed at one of said guiding sidewalls, wherein a guiding slot isformed at said corresponding button sidewall to normally align with saidblocking slot, wherein said blocking end of said blocker is extended tosaid blocking slot through said guiding slot to block said depression ofsaid actuation button, wherein when said blocking end of said blocker isslid away from said blocking slot of said guiding sidewall, saidactuation button is free to be depressed.
 14. The utility lighter ofclaim 11 wherein said blocking slot has a slanted opening edge forguiding said blocking end of said blocker to slide in and out of saidblocking slot.
 15. The utility lighter of claim 12 wherein said blockingslot has a slanted opening edge for guiding said blocking end of saidblocker to slide in and out of said blocking slot.
 16. The utilitylighter of claim 13 wherein said blocking slot has a slanted openingedge for guiding said blocking end of said blocker to slide in and outof said blocking slot.
 17. The utility lighter of claim 1 wherein saidsafety mechanism further comprises a resilient member mounted at saidblocker to ensure said blocker remaining at said inoperativeconfiguration.
 18. The utility lighter of claim 8 wherein said safetymechanism further comprises a resilient member mounted at said blockerto ensure said blocker remaining at said inoperative configuration. 19.The utility lighter of claim 16 wherein said safety mechanism furthercomprises a resilient member mounted at said blocker to ensure saidblocker remaining at said inoperative configuration.
 20. The utilitylighter of claim 17 wherein said resilient member is a compressionspring mounted at said blocker to bias against said actuation button tonormally push said blocker and said safety wheel at said inoperativeconfiguration.
 21. The utility lighter of claim 18 wherein saidresilient member is a compression spring mounted at said blocker to biasagainst said actuation button to normally push said blocker and saidsafety wheel at said inoperative configuration.
 22. The utility lighterof claim 19 wherein said resilient member is a compression springmounted at said blocker to bias against said actuation button tonormally push said blocker and said safety wheel at said inoperativeconfiguration.
 23. The utility lighter of claim 4 wherein said blockerhas a depression slot aligned with said depressible head of saidpiezoelectric element so that when said actuation button is depressed,said depressible head of said piezoelectric element passes through saiddepression slot of said blocker to prevent said depression of saidpiezoelectric element, wherein said safety wheel is rotated to move saidblocker to mis-align said depression slot with said depressible head ofsaid piezoelectric element so that when said actuation button isdepressed, said depressible head of said piezoelectric element isdepressed by said blocker for ignition.
 24. The utility lighter of claim5 wherein said blocker has a depression slot aligned with saiddepressible head of said piezoelectric element so that when saidactuation button is depressed, said depressible head of saidpiezoelectric element passes through said depression slot of saidblocker to prevent said depression of said piezoelectric element,wherein said safety wheel is rotated to move said blocker to misalignsaid depression slot with said depressible head of said piezoelectricelement so that when said actuation button is depressed, saiddepressible head of said piezoelectric element is depressed by saidblocker for ignition.
 25. The utility lighter of claim 7 wherein saidblocker has a depression slot aligned with said depressible head of saidpiezoelectric element so that when said actuation button is depressed,said depressible head of said piezoelectric element passes through saiddepression slot of said blocker to prevent said depression of saidpiezoelectric element, wherein said safety wheel is rotated to move saidblocker to misalign said depression slot with said depressible head ofsaid piezoelectric element so that when said actuation button isdepressed, said depressible head of said piezoelectric element isdepressed by said blocker for ignition.
 26. The utility lighter of claim23 wherein said safety mechanism further comprises a resilient membermounted at said blocker to ensure said blocker remaining at saidinoperative configuration.
 27. The utility lighter of claim 24 whereinsaid safety mechanism further comprises a resilient member mounted atsaid blocker to ensure said blocker remaining at said inoperativeconfiguration.
 28. The utility lighter of claim 25 wherein said safetymechanism further comprises a resilient member mounted at said blockerto ensure said blocker remaining at said inoperative configuration. 29.The utility lighter of claim 26 wherein said resilient member is acompression spring mounted at said blocker to bias against saidactuation button to normally push said blocker and said safety wheel atsaid inoperative configuration.
 30. The utility lighter of claim 27wherein said resilient member is a compression spring mounted at saidblocker to bias against said actuation button to normally push saidblocker and said safety wheel at said inoperative configuration.
 31. Theutility lighter of claim 28 wherein said resilient member is acompression spring mounted at said blocker to bias against saidactuation button to normally push said blocker and said safety wheel atsaid inoperative configuration.